Workplace culture doesn’t come from a slide deck (gross)...it comes from people. Vibemakers is a podcast for the ones shaping the experience of work from the inside out: the HR & people ops folk, founders, leaders, and misfits building culture through small bets, big beliefs, and a whole lot of trial and error. Hosted by Marnie Robbins of Vibe People Studio, each episode features a candid conversation with a culture activator, someone rolling up their sleeves to make work more human, meaningful, and aligned. We go beyond best practices and talk about what actually works (and what doesn’t) when you’re trying to create a workplace people want to be part of. No fluff. Well, maybe a little fluff. But mainly just the real stuff behind the vibe.
Learn more at: www.vibepeoplestudio.com
How to Be an All-In Manager: Building Cultures of Safety, Candor, and Care
In this episode of VibeMakers: Conversations with Culture Activators, I sit down with my friend and mentor, Ali Merchant, author of The All-In Manager, to explore how great leaders create cultures where people feel safe to speak up, disagree, and stay curious.
Ali has spent decades leading and coaching managers across the world’s biggest brands. His leadership philosophy is simple but radical: safety creates voice, voice creates value, and value drives performance.
We dig into:
💬 Why psychological safety is the foundation for voice and innovation
🧩 How to move from command and control to care and connect
💡 The Pixar-inspired “rules of candor” exercise any team can use in 20 minutes
⚡ Why resistance isn’t defiance—it’s data (and how to use it to fuel change)
❤️ The difference between tough love and true care in leadership
🔥 How burnout signals a cultural problem, not a personal weakness
Ali shares practical frameworks for turning discomfort into dialogue and dissent into innovation. He challenges leaders to “farm for dissent,” seek opposing views, and treat resistance as a cultural health indicator, not a threat.
If you’ve ever wrestled with how to make feedback feel safe, how to manage conflict without chaos, or how to spot burnout before it’s too late—this episode is your playbook for leading all in.
📘 Learn more or grab the book at allinmanager.com
👉 Follow Ali on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alimerchant/
7 Oct 2025
Culture, Tricksters, and Tricky Times with Jitske Kramer
What if the stories we tell (and the ones we don’t) are shaping our
workplaces more than we realize?
In this episode of VibeMakers, Marnie sits down with globally renowned corporate anthropologist and bestselling author Jitske Kramer to explore how culture is created, broken, and rebuilt, especially in the messy, uncertain middle we call tricky times.
From voodoo priests in Togo to startup teams in Amsterdam, Jitske brings her deep fieldwork and sharp perspective to questions like:
🌀 What is liminal space, and why are so many organizations stuck there?
📜 How have we accidentally turned growth into a cultural obsession…and what’s the cost?
🧙♀️ Who really holds the “soul” of the tribe, and how do modern shamans show up in the workplace?
🎭 What happens when we put tricksters in charge instead of letting them challenge power from the outside?
This conversation is a powerful wake-up call for anyone building cultures of belonging, leading through change, or navigating the tension between ambition and sustainability.
📚 Grab your copy of Tricky Times
🔗 Connect with Jitske
📝 Follow Jitske’s work on Substack
3 Jul 2025
Leadership First: The Real Work of Culture Activation with Brian Vogel
In this episode of VibeMakers: Conversations with Culture Activators, I sit down with Brian Vogel - leadership coach, founder of Sundog Coaching, certified Working Genius facilitator, and culture whisperer. We dive into:👉 How performance shifts when it’s driven by purpose instead of pressure👉 The role of leaders in affirming and adjusting behavior to drive culture👉 Why “face time” culture needs to go👉 The effect of the Working Genius model for energizing leadership👉 Plus: Brian’s past life as a certified pool operator 🏊♂️Brian’s approach to culture activation is refreshingly human. He believes the future of work belongs to leaders who care, connect, and coach…and I couldn’t agree more.
27 May 2025
Modeling Culture: Using Predictive Thinking to Break Assumptions and Boost Innovation with Jake Brintzenhofe.
What if you approached hiring and culture the way a predictive analyst approaches a model? In this episode, I sit down with Jake Brintzenhofe, founder of Error Term Consulting, to explore how predictive modeling mindsets can revolutionize people decisions (no spreadsheets required). We dig into the hidden assumptions baked into the way we design work (spoiler: more hours don’t always equal more productivity), why engagement averages can hide major cultural blind spots, and how modeling can help you build both smarter systems and more human workplaces. If you’re curious about hypothesis-driven HR or how to design cultures that truly adapt to real humans, this one’s for you.
28 Apr 2025
Unleashing Humor & Storytelling in the Workplace with Gita Kulkarni
Welcome to this week’s Vibe Makers episode where host Marnie Robbins brings on the wonderfully witty Gita Kulkarni, founder of Humor Edge. Dive into a conversation that’s all about leveraging laughter and the art of storytelling to not just work better, but to build a more cohesive and vibrant workplace. Gita, a master of improvisation from the famed Second City and a tech implementation guru, unpacks how humor and personal stories are essential tools for anyone looking to lead with impact and empathy. Ready to rediscover your kindergarten spirit and bring your whole self to work? This episode is your playbook for transforming a typical day at the office into an opportunity for connection and growth. Don’t miss out on these gems of wisdom that promise to change how you view humor and storytelling in business!
3 Apr 2025
Lauren Schneider on Personalizing benefits and connection in a remote world
Join us in this enlightening episode of Vibe Makers as we sit down with Lauren Schneider, the Head of Brand and Communications at Compt. Dive into a conversation that breaks down the traditional boundaries of HR tech. Lauren shares her transformative journey from a TV journalist to a trailblazer in the HR space, focusing on how Compt is redefining employee benefits. Discover the importance of personalizing benefits to meet individual needs and how to maintain genuine connections in a remote or hybrid work environment. Lauren’s insights provide valuable lessons on fostering a workplace culture that prioritizes flexibility, support, and transparency, ensuring that every team member can thrive. Tune in to learn how to create a more human-centered workplace where personal and professional growth go hand in hand.
10 Feb 2025
From Imposter Syndrome to Culture Catalyst: Mindy Honcoop on Strategic HR That Drives Business
Welcome to this episode of Vibemakers, where we connect with the trailblazers shaping company culture today. In this inspiring session, I’m joined by Mindy Hancoop, founder of Agile on HR and a champion of transformative HR practices. Mindy shares her journey from battling imposter syndrome to spearheading innovative HR solutions that empower leaders and redefine workplace culture.In our discussion, Mindy recounts her eye-opening experiences at Microsoft and how they shaped her approach to HR as a strategic pillar of business. Her passion for mentoring HR professionals and integrating culture into the business strategy shines through as she details her methods and successes.🚀 Big Announcement! We also unveil our latest collaboration, the Catalytic Culture Mastermind. This 3-month mastermind is designed for HR leaders eager to harness the true power of culture to drive business success. We kick things off with a FREE workshop on February 25th, where we’ll dive into the Culture Score framework and discuss the significant impact of strategic HR.👥 Whether you’re an HR professional looking to elevate your impact or a business leader interested in leveraging culture as a growth engine, this episode and our upcoming mastermind offer invaluable insights and opportunities.🔗 Register for the free workshop: https://lu.ma/p3l7l2g1Don’t miss this deep dive into the heart of catalytic culture and learn how you can be part of this transformative journey.
27 Jan 2025
Building Human-Centered Workplaces thanks to AI with Beth White
In this episode of Vibemakers, I had the pleasure of chatting with Beth White, the trailblazing founder and CEO of MeBeBot, about how AI is reshaping HR and transforming workplace culture. Beth’s journey; from “accidental HR professional” to leading the charge in HR tech, is packed with insights and inspiration.Key highlights from our conversation:🤖 AI for HR – Beth explains how MeBeBot empowers HR teams by automating repetitive tasks, creating space for human-centered, strategic work.🌟 Building vibrant cultures – Beth shares how meaningful perks, clarity, and connection drive employee engagement.📈 The future of work – Why learning and adaptability are essential as job roles and technologies evolve rapidly.🎢 Culture as a roller coaster – Beth compares MeBeBot’s culture to the Superman roller coaster—challenging conventional thinking with a unique perspective.Beth’s resource list:Beth also shared some amazing resources for leaders and HR professionals:🔖 MIT Review: The Algorithm – Insights on AI advancements.https://www.technologyreview.com/🔖 Harvard Business Review – Subscribe for HR and leadership topics. https://hbr.org/topics🔖 Select Software Reviews – Tools for People Operations. https://www.selectsoftwarereviews.com/🔖 Designing Your Life – A book and course for career design. https://designingyour.life/🔖 The AI Report – Weekly updates on AI trends. https://www.theaireport.ai/🔖 The AI Break – AI insights via Substack. https://theaibreak.substack.com/🔖 WorkforceAI Podcast – Beth discusses HR and AI innovations. https://workforceai.substack.com/p/mebebots-beth-white-on-why-hr-andBeth’s insights are a must-hear for anyone navigating the intersection of culture, technology, and the future of work.
9 Jan 2025
Aligning People and Purpose with Sri Chellappa
In this episode of Vibemakers, I sit down with Sri Chellappa, Co-founder and CEO of Engagedly, to explore how purpose-driven cultures can transform organizations. From his inspiring journey of self-reflection after 9/11 to co-founding Engagedly, Sri shares the philosophies that guide his work: aligning personal aspirations with organizational goals, fostering continuous engagement, and cultivating meaningful agency at work.Key highlights from our conversation: 🎙️ Culture as an uphill climb: Why shifting culture requires constant effort—and what happens when it’s left unchecked.🎙️ Agency in the workplace: Sri’s vision for a world where employees have ownership over their roles, careers, and contributions.🎙️ The unsung heroes of culture: How first-level managers are the pillars of any strong culture—and why they deserve more support.Sri also shares his favorite leadership advice inspired by the Bhagavad Gita and the importance of focusing on your work, not just the outcome.This conversation is packed with insights for leaders looking to create more intentional, engaged, and resilient workplaces. Tune in to hear Sri’s thoughts on how to align people and purpose for lasting impact.
12 Nov 2024
Rethinking Performance and Culture with Alan Paulin
In the debut of Vibemakers, I sit down with Alan Paulin, founder of Flin. Alan’s background as a software engineer turned cultural innovator sets him apart, and Flint’s approach to continuous performance management is as refreshing as it is needed. He talks about his journey from tech to team-building, and how those years at Cash App gave him a front-row seat to what happens when a team has each other’s backs—spoiler: it’s magic.Flint is taking a wrecking ball to traditional performance reviews, pushing for a real-time feedback approach that Alan believes will transform how teams connect and grow. He wants to make giving and receiving feedback a natural part of the culture, not just an annual checkbox. Alan’s vision? Growth that feels like compound interest—constant, cumulative, and game-changing.One of my favorite moments is when Alan describes Flint’s culture as a “triple play”—it takes every teammate working in sync to make it happen, and when they do, it’s something to celebrate. Alan’s passion for creating agile, human-centered workplaces is contagious, and his love for collaboration and fresh perspectives sets a high bar for what workplace culture can be. This is a conversation for anyone ready to rethink and re-vibe how we look at culture.
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